I have have a question that I need answered to make sure we are not endangering our beloved dog Taz. Taz is a slightly crazy 11 lbs. Miniature Pinscher. We try to avoid feeding him "scraps" but about a year ago we discovered that Taz has a "sweet tooth" for most crunchy vegetables. He loves cucumbers, brocoli, coliflower and romaine lettuce. He can hear us peeling cucumber from 4 blocks away!

So my qusetion is: Is there any type of veggies that we should avoid feeding him? Any feedback would be appreciated :)

mhikl

January 12th, 2011, 02:57 PM

So my qusetion is: Is there any type of veggies that we should avoid feeding him?

Excellent question, TTS. At first I thought you might be thinking along the vegetarian line. I read a small tract from an old healthfood sage from the sixties (as a health nut I read what I can find and find a lot of gems in the clutter) who lived on an island and as a vegetarian put his dog on the same diet. Claimed the dog was healthy. Vegetarianism is great for people of AA and AB blood types, but others and definitely dogs need their proteins from animal sources.

But to your point, onions are bad and killed an gf's pup when it got to the discards in the garbage.

I got this list from the site: http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com/Article/25-Human-Foods-Toxic-To-Dogs/300

1. Onions (Both onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate. But onions are more of a danger. Many dog biscuits contain *small* amounts of garlic – garlic contains less of this toxin so huge amounts would need to be consumed to be toxic. And, by the way, this poison builds up the system – it can be toxic in one large dose – or with repeated consumption of small amounts.)
2. Chocolate (Chocolate contains Theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. This can be fatal to dogs.)
3. Grapes (Grapes are dangerous because of an unknown substance which is toxic to dogs – affects canine’s kidneys)
4. Raisins (See above.)
5. Most Fruit Pits and Seeds (Contain Cyanogenic Glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning – though the fruit itself is OK.)
6. Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia nuts contain an unknown substance that is toxic to dogs.)
7. Bones (Most bones should *not* be given (especially chicken bones) because they can splinter and cause laceration of the digestive system and/or become lodged in your pet’s throat – so they also pose a choking hazard.)- probably means cooked bones which transforms bone mineral into rock like substances.
8. Potato Peelings and Green Potatoes (Contain Oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.)
9. Rhubarb leaves (See above.)
10. Broccoli (Broccoli is only toxic in large quantities.)
11. Green parts of Tomatoes or Green Potatoes (Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.)
12. Yeast Dough (Yeast Dough can produce gas and swell in your pet’s stomach – leading to rupture of the digestive system)
13. Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Tea, Soft Drinks (Coffee, tea, & most soft drinks are dangerous due to the caffeine.)
14. Beer/Wine/Alcohol of any kind (Alcohol of any kind could lead to coma or even death.)
15. Human Vitamins (Human vitamins, especially those containing iron, can cause damage to the lining of the digestive system as well as cause kidney and liver damage)
16. Moldy or Spoiled Food (I think this goes without saying.)
17. Persimmons (Persimmons can cause intestinal blockage)
18. Raw Eggs and Raw Fish (Raw eggs and some raw fish can cause Salmonella poisoning.)
19. Salt, Baking Soda, Baking Powder (In large amounts these can cause an electrolyte imbalance – and severe electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle spasm or even congestive heart failure.)
20. Mushrooms (Mushrooms may contain toxins which could cause liver and kidney damage)
21. Sugar-Free Foods (Sugar-free foods containing Xylitol have been found to cause liver failure in some dogs.)
22. Nutmeg (Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures, and central nervous system damage.)
23. Excessive Fatty Foods (Excess fatty foods can cause Pancreatitis.)
24. Avocado (All parts of the avocado and avocado tree are toxic to dogs.)
25. Diary Products (Dairy products don’t usually pose a great danger; but many dairy product have high fat content (see number 23) – and many pets are lactose intolerant – some pets more than others. Lactose intolerance leads to gas and diarrhea; though small amounts of yogurt and cheese are usually fairly well tolerated.)

It's always good to search as many sites as you can and the ones with references to sources are better guides. Remember to be aware of "opinions".

More knowledgeable others will address any faults in this list and add other points and items of concern.
I'd like to find more sources on Salmonella poisoning because the garbage I have seen our dogs eat (they bury bones and such, eh) should have done some of them in. Dogs have very acidic stomaches. (As an O blood type, I do to and it is amazing that I am not done in by some of the bad foul foods I have eaten.) However, any dog with a compromised immune system should be watched, I'd adventrue.
Cheers,
mhikl

Marty11

January 12th, 2011, 03:26 PM

I think it's covered......:thumbs up My Boston terrier is the same, those baby carrots and cukes and even raw brocolli, she comes running fast when she hears me preparing dinner that involves cutting vegies. I like the added fibre, is it good to have the raw veggies for this? My pooches are on grain free.